(CNN) – The morning after a presidential debate that saw a forceful Mitt Romney attacking President Barack Obama’s economic record, top Democrats said the event wouldn’t sway the state of the presidential race.

“I think that Gov. Romney is certainly a skilled debater. And last night he was able to elevate his level of performance. But he did not change the fundamental dynamics of this race, nor did he change some of the policies that actually got us into the economic mess that we have,” Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat and top surrogate for Obama, said on CNN’s “Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien.”

“Today is a new day,” he said later. “Everybody wakes up, when we go back for the last 35, 36 days of this campaign.”

According to a CNN/ORC International survey conducted right after the debate, 67% of debate watchers questioned said that the Republican nominee won the faceoff, with one in four saying that President Barack Obama was victorious.

Jen Psaki, the president’s campaign press secretary, said those numbers wouldn’t wind up playing a major role in the outcome of November’s election.

“I don't think the American people make a judgment on who they're going to vote for by an instant poll coming out of a debate,” Psaki said on “Starting Point.” “They're not looking for an attacker in chief, which is what Mitt Romney was last night. They're looking for a commander in chief and the president's calm, delivered performance and him laying out his policies and where he wanted to move the country forward.”

“When people are talking about it in Florida and Ohio and Iowa this morning, that's what they'll be focused on,” Psaki concluded.

O’Malley also claimed the instant reading from polls would not alter the edge Obama enjoyed in national and battleground state polling going into Wednesday’s event.

“I think that what you have to look at in the course of a campaign is not any one day or any one performance,” O’Malley said. “I've been in these debates, and always, it seems, that the challenger has an edge in that very first debate.”

soundoff(38 Responses)

You sold the W/H to the highest bidder last night... Poor performance.. Hopefully the nexrt debate would be successful,,
Still believe in the President...

October 4, 2012 09:53 am at 9:53 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

“I don't think the American people make a judgment on who they're going to vote for by an instant poll coming out of a debate,”
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I don't think so either.
But here's what else I think. I think that some "undeciders" tuned into the debate last night to make up their mind as to whom they were going to vote for. Many undecideds may or may not be keeping up with the Trail of Lies that Romney has been wont to leave behind everywhere he speaks; so for them Romney came across as agressive and assertive. The President not so much.
I also think that President Obama did not maximize on the huge viewership numbers that the first debate garnered last night. He's set the bar so high and last night that was unfortunate. While his points were valid and stood up to fact checks that fact is that people are apt to make their judgment on what they saw versus content and validity.
The President should've brought up Bain, abortion, equal pay, the 47% remarks, Cayman Islands. And he should've been more direct in responding to Romney's attacks and allegations. Romney lying last night is almost irrelevant. The fact is that some of the folks that tuned in last night won't tune in again for the second debate. An opportunity was wasted.
I didn't want to be schooled on facts last night by my President, I wanted him to nail Romney into the coffin that he was already laid out in.
Obama 2012.

October 4, 2012 09:54 am at 9:54 am |

luke,az

Gov Romney looked panicky. As always he brought his lies with him. President Obama was substantive and in control. I would not want Gov. Romney anywhere near the red button.

October 4, 2012 09:57 am at 9:57 am |

marcindc

I can't wait to hear what the community organizers teleprompter has to say next.

October 4, 2012 10:00 am at 10:00 am |

HOLY TIGHTY WHITIES WILLARD

Regardless of what all the pundits say who won, Willard did not answer the questions regarding his tax plan. Specificity is what I was looking for from him and I did not get any. To be honest with you, I think it was a poorly moderated debate. That being said, no mention of the 47% comment, or Lyin Ryan's 30% comment. Why? I think it's all part of the strategy. The President didn't need to bring up the 47% comment. The 47% ad speaks for itself.

October 4, 2012 10:04 am at 10:04 am |

pbk

There is one take to this debate that some of us, including Al Gore, questioned. Several days ago I blogged that PRes O should have been in Denver 3 or 4 days before to acclimate himself to that altitude. He arrived 2 hours before the debate. That was not a cool decision and his advisors Axelrod and Plouffe should have had their butts kicked. Pres Obama risked a violent headache and being light-headedness. There are very few people who can jump off a plane in Denver and not feel that altitude within a few minutes.

October 4, 2012 10:04 am at 10:04 am |

RealityBites

I enjoyed CNNs post debate segment the most.
Candy and Anderson were clearly blind sided by Obama's lack of presence. All their pre-worked Romney zingers were out the window/ Watching them try and contain their disappointment in Obama without promoting Romney was priceless.

October 4, 2012 10:05 am at 10:05 am |

RetNavy2001

Sounds like the democrats are in denial, Romney smoke Obama. He showed Obama for what he is on National TV, a bum.

October 4, 2012 10:07 am at 10:07 am |

anonoymous

Watched some of the debate. Cant say it was Mr Obama's finest but it doesnt change my vote! Im behind him. Wasnt impressed with Mr Romney if he's telling you he'll cut PBS what is he NOT telling us? makes you wonder....

October 4, 2012 10:09 am at 10:09 am |

Desmond, a CANADIAN

The President did not, indeed, present his VERY STRONG RECORD AND VISION effectively and even spared Mr. Raw Money for his deceptive economics, etc. But, CHECK THE FACTS, FOLKS, AND VOTE OBAMA OR YOU WILL TAKE YOUR COUNTRY BACK TO ITS DISASTROUS DAYS, domestically and internationally.

October 4, 2012 10:09 am at 10:09 am |

rosco

Romney was strong, decisive and has a clear vision on how to save the Obambam mess.
Obambam was not prepared (as usual) and still doesnt get how inept he is.

October 4, 2012 10:10 am at 10:10 am |

Dean

The beginning of the end.

October 4, 2012 10:10 am at 10:10 am |

Kim Castle

Kim Castle
Mitt will have a voucher systme for education. What happens if you have a child who goes to a school and are not excelling in that enviornment. That student will be stuck in a lost situation, because there will not be an aternative.

It appear Obama, did not defend himself. Well that's because his record speaks for him. Think about it. Do you think another president could have fought for the middle class and under privilege as hard as our persident are fighting for us.

If you think so and wants a Pandora Box, well Mitt is your president, if not than you know what to do vote for the most deserving man for president President Barack Obama.
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.Kim Castle
Don't be dazzeled by the empty wagon. Mitt will turn Medcare over to the states. States go into bankruptcy all the time. Do you really want your state to decide on what they will pay for. Whe he was asked about pre- existence conditions, he said he has something for that. He did not say what, also when he said he was going to create jobs and brign the deficit down and increase military spending his responds was he isgoing to turn it over to congress. Well, facebook family before make a hasty decision, I strongly suggest you go and look at Paul Ryan's initatives, because that is what the republicans are going to pass if they get in the Whitehouse. The middle class will not have a chance.
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